The health benefits of hiking are head-to-toe. A walk in the woods can help alleviate mental fatigue, and improve creative thinking. Hiking is also great for cardiovascular health and muscle tone.
But is hiking an option in the winter?
Absolutely. We’ve collected a list of five parks with stellar options for winter rambles:
Today’s post comes from Connor Oke, an Ontario Parks marketing intern.
We live in a world that demands a lot of us.
Canadians work overtime at higher rates than they did 25 years ago. At the same time, we spend more hours in front of screens and on social media, which are linked to increased anxiety and distractedness. We also get less sleep than we did 15 years ago.
Continue reading 4 ways camping helps us slow down and enjoy life
Today’s blog post comes from Catherine Reining, a graduate in the Master of Environment Studies program at Wilfrid Laurier University.
We know spending time in nature offers a ton of health benefits like reduced stress, better sleep, and lower blood pressure.
But what is the role of parks and protected areas in human health?
Continue reading The restorative health benefits of protected areas
30 minutes in nature for 30 days straight. Are you up for the 30×30 Challenge?
Ontario Parks is challenging you to spend the month of August out in nature. Being in nature has a wide range of benefits to our physical and mental health. Spending quality time in nature is an opportunity to connect with your loved ones and Ontario’s beautiful natural environment.
By accepting the 30×30 challenge, you are committing to a healthy lifestyle in the outdoors!
Continue reading 30 ways to get outside this August
Today’s post comes from Kyra Santin, a Natural Heritage Education and Marketing Student from our Northwest Zone.
George Santayana — poet, philosopher and naturalist — said, “The Earth has music for those who listen.”
The earth holds a lot of beauty within it. If we open our eyes and ears, and listen to the world that surrounds us, we can truly appreciate the music the earth is making.
Today’s post comes from Sarah McMichael, Ontario Parks’ Healthy Parks Healthy People Coordinator.
We all know that fresh air is good for us, right?
Time in nature has been proven to lead to better sleep, improved productivity, lower stress, increased self-esteem, better mood, lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, and a lower risk of diabetes and heart attack. The research is clear: spending time in nature improves our physical, mental, and social well-being.
Imagine how much your health and happiness could improve if you spent quality time outdoors every day for a whole month. This is what the 30×30 Challenge is all about. Sounds like a great way to get healthy!
Whether you walk through the waves or jump off the dock, there’s no better way to cool off than going for a swim.
This summer, as you escape the sweltering heat in one of Ontario’s lakes, think about these head-to-toe benefits your body is receiving from that dip:
It’s back! Enjoy FREE day-use at all Ontario Parks on July 19, 2019 for Healthy Parks Healthy People Day!
Spending time in nature is good for our physical and mental health. There are tons of great events occurring across the province to foster appreciation for nature and raise awareness about the benefits of time in nature.
Write yourself a nature prescription and start your weekend early with FREE day-use entry to your favourite provincial park.
Check out our four spotlight events, or scroll down to see park events from across the province:
Continue reading Healthy Parks Healthy People Day 2019: events
Screens are everywhere. Cell phones, Netflix, and video games can be distractions that keep us inside. It’s easy to spend hours chilling in front of your phone or TV.
These are hours we could be spending being physically active in the outdoors. Excessive screen time has negative impacts on our health, and this is especially concerning when it comes to children. Outdoor physical activity is crucial for healthy development.
When you think back to your childhood, what are some of your best memories?
Likely a lot of them involved playing and exploring in the outdoors.
Unfortunately, many children today don’t get this opportunity. Kids are often kept indoors by electronics and other distractions. They miss out on the developmental benefits of outdoor play.
This is where forest school comes in. Forest school combines nature with education for the ultimate outdoor learning experience.
Since September 2017, MacGregor Point Provincial Park has hosted Saugeen Shores Forest School, the first forest school in an Ontario provincial park.
